A Scenic Swiss Adventure to Share

Our Swiss escape begins with a comfortable train ride from Zurich toward Lucerne. Once you land at Zurich Airport (ZRH), hop in a taxi or take the spotless public train into the city to Zürich Hauptbahnhof (Zürich HB), the main train station. Our Lucerne train departs at 11:10 am, so we recommend arriving at the station to meet the group by 10:30.

Watch the landscape shift from urban surroundings to green countryside on the 45-minute ride, with the first dramatic glimpses of the Alps. By midday, we’ll arrive in one of Switzerland’s most idyllic cities, beautifully positioned between Lake Lucerne and the mountains. 

Our home here is the Art Deco Hotel Montana, an elegant hillside hotel overlooking the lake, city, and surrounding peaks. Better yet, it has a private funicular, which connects directly to the lakeside, making it a memorable first stay in Switzerland.

After we get settled into our rooms and gather for a relaxed Mediterranean lunch on the terrace, we’ll head out to discover Lucerne through a particularly personal lens: the stories of the women who helped shape the city. 

A private guided tour takes us through the medieval center, introducing us to influential women from Lucerne’s cultural, social, and political history. We’ll wander through historic squares and buildings and cross the famous Chapel Bridge, whose wooden structure and painted panels span the Reuss River.

Come evening, we’ll take to the water for a five-course dinner cruise on Lake Lucerne. Mountain peaks and lakeside villages surround us as the boat glides across the water, with the changing evening light creating a spectacular backdrop for our first dinner together.

This morning belongs entirely to Lucerne. After breakfast, we’ll have several hours to wander the Old Town, where narrow streets, painted façades, elegant squares, small cafés, and independent shops practically beckon you to pop in and peruse. Keep an eye out for Swiss chocolates, watches, and traditional crafts before taking your pick of a restaurant for lunch along the waterfront or within the historic center.

In the afternoon, we’ll reconvene and transfer to the Richard Wagner Museum for a private guided visit of the composer’s former lakeside home. Inside the villa where Wagner lived from 1866 to 1872, we’ll see historic rooms, personal belongings, manuscripts, and exhibits illuminating his life and work in Switzerland. It offers an intimate glimpse into the world of a major cultural figure and the landscape that surrounded him.

Back in central Lucerne, we’ll gather for a traditional Swiss dinner at Hotel Rebstock, a historic restaurant near the Old Town. Hearty regional specialties and Swiss wine provide a fitting finale to our last evening in the city.

After breakfast and checkout, we’ll board the Luzern–Interlaken Express, turning the train itself into one of the day’s great experiences. 

Over about two hours, the route carries us through central Switzerland past traditional villages and increasingly dramatic mountain scenery. We’ll pass Lake Sarnen and Lake Lungern before crossing the Brünig Pass and descending into the Bernese Oberland, with large windows offering an uninterrupted view of the changing landscape. Lunch aboard the train makes the scenic ride feel wonderfully effortless.

Our destination is Interlaken, one of Switzerland’s classic alpine resorts. We’ll check into the Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa, a grand 19th-century property whose ornate Belle Époque character is balanced by modern comforts and an expansive spa. 

The afternoon is yours to enjoy as you please. Perhaps you'll make use of our complimentary access to the Nescens Spa or wander through Interlaken’s boutiques and cafés, finding the perfect one to sip an espresso while you watch the world go by.

Later, a private driver will take us to the lake for a sunset barbecue cruise. With the Bernese Oberland rising around us, we’ll enjoy a cookout and drinks aboard the boat as the light softens across the water before returning to the hotel.

The mountains take center stage today as we travel by train to Grindelwald after breakfast, one of the Bernese Oberland’s quintessential alpine villages. 

As we approach for our day visit, the scenery grows more impressive, with traditional wooden chalets and the imposing Eiger (a 13,015-foot mountain in the Bernese Alps) in the background. We’ll have time to wander through the village, browse its small shops, or pause for coffee while taking in the extraordinary landscapes.

For lunch, we’ll settle into the Gaststübli, a cozy restaurant known for Swiss specialties and regional ingredients. Its warm, rustic character makes it a lovely setting for a leisurely mountain meal.

After lunch, we’ll continue by gondola to Mount First, where the views expand dramatically across the Bernese Alps. At the top, we can explore the viewpoints, take a gentle alpine walk, or, for those who want a little more adventure, experience the elevated First Cliff Walk. 

Once we descend and train back to Interlaken, the afternoon is intentionally flexible. As evening sets in, head out for dinner at a restaurant in town that's caught your eye, or cozy up and order room service. 

Are you ready for one of the most dramatic changes of scenery in Switzerland? We’ll leave Interlaken by train and travel toward Montreux, watching alpine valleys and mountain villages gradually give way to vineyards and the shimmering expanse of Lake Geneva. Lunch aboard the train allows us to enjoy the changing countryside without interrupting the experience.

By afternoon, we’ll arrive in Montreux, a graceful lakeside resort long associated with artists, musicians, and writers. Palm-lined promenades, gilded architecture, flower-filled gardens, and sweeping views across Lake Geneva give the city a noticeably unique character. Our home here is the Fairmont Le Montreux Palace, an iconic hotel overlooking the water.

We'll have time to relax at the hotel or stroll along the lakeside promenade before getting ready for the evening, starting with light bites and a drink at Funky Claude’s Bar. 

Then we'll head to the legendary Montreux Jazz Festival, where our Seated Hospitality Experience Pass gives us reserved seating and exclusive hospitality, so we can enjoy an evening of world-class music set against the shimmering Lake Geneva. What a treat.

We’ll bid farewell to Montreux this morning and travel deeper into the Valais Alps toward Zermatt. 

Before boarding the train, we’ll stop at a local boulangerie to pick up a packed lunch for the ride. Today's route follows the Rhône Valley before entering the Matter Valley, where steep slopes and towering peaks gradually close in around the train until we reach Zermatt, the famous car-free mountain village beneath the Matterhorn.

Our hotel, the historic Hotel Mont Cervin Palace, has been part of Zermatt’s story for more than 160 years. Its central location and longstanding Swiss hospitality provide an ideal base for exploring the village and all of its charm.

The afternoon is yours to shape. Wander through the village and pop into a few of its shops and cafés, or maybe join us on a guided excursion toward the Matterhorn Glacier by cableway for extraordinary mountainside views. 

In the evening, we’ll gather at Postli Stube at Hotel Post, a warm alpine restaurant where traditional Swiss and mountain-inspired dishes create a cozy and intimate first dinner beneath the Matterhorn.

Our final full day in Switzerland is deliberately unhurried, giving us the chance to appreciate Zermatt without a defined schedule. 

After breakfast, spend the morning exploring the village, browsing boutiques filled with Swiss watches, jewelry, local crafts, and alpine goods, or simply settling onto a sunny terrace with a coffee and a view. 

Lunch is on your own before appointments at the hotel begin for a restorative 50-minute massage. After several days of scenic train rides, mountain excursions, and sightseeing, this quiet spa experience offers a chance to savor our final afternoon in the Alps.

For our farewell evening, we’ll gather for dinner at the Michelin-starred Brasserie Uno. Over our final meal together, we can toast the landscapes and experiences that carried us from medieval Lucerne and the shores of Lake Lucerne through the Bernese Oberland and Montreux to Zermatt and the Matterhorn.

After one final breakfast surrounded by the mountains, we’ll check out and board our train to Zurich. The approximately three-and-a-half-hour ride provides one last opportunity to watch Switzerland change outside the window, with alpine valleys gradually giving way to rolling countryside before we reach the country’s largest city.

There’s no need to rush this final stretch. Relax aboard the train and look through photographs from the past week before continuing to the airport. We recommend booking onward flights at 5:00 pm or later to allow time to reach the airport and complete departure formalities.

Until we meet again...